Lots of rock

[sjay]

I found out today that my tank has finished cycling and everything looks good except the ph. We are at 7.9. I believe this is due to the 30 or so pounds of slate type rock that we have used. All my fish are doing well and according to fishprofiles.com, the fish I have so far chosen are tollerant of ph up to 8.0. Two questions:

1. If the rock is left in, can the ph be lowered a measurable amount by using peat in my penguine 330?

2. If not, can I just forget neon tetras or cardnals, or will they adjust? Yes, I know this is probably a stupid question.

 

[HawkEye_Pierce]

Just for the heck of it I would check the pH of your tap water...I don't recall slate rock increasing pH...sounds like you have that in the tap H2O

My tap water is 7.6 right out of the faucet...just a thought

 

[sjay]

For some reason that never even occured to me. Duh!! Thanks. Hawk.

 

[Managuense]

slate rock is a metamorphic (remember 7th grade? ) form of claysone....which is inert.

i have found that using types of rocks that contain calcite (like limestones, dolostones) dont even really alter my ph to a noticable extent.

your neons and cardinals will do just fine in your tank conditions, as long as your tank is well filtered and maintained.
M

 

[sjay]

I hope you're right. I bought 10 neons early this afternoon. So far they are all looking good and doing well. Already eating well, too. I'm working on lowering my ph slowly. My tap water is high at 7.6.

 

[Lotus]

I have a similar PH, and asked about lowering it on the forum. Everyone said to leave the PH alone. Firstly because most PH products are not accurate, and secondly because fish bought locally will be from a similar PH.

You might want to read up on it before you decide to play with the PH. I decided to leave mine alone, and the fish all seem fine. It would only be important if you are thinking of keeping certain delicate species.

 

[sjay]

I guess the neon's are the most delicate fish I would tend to have at this point. All my other fish seem to be handling the ph fine. Maybe I will just leave it alone in the future. I really thought that 7.9 was pushing it. Guess not.